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View Full Version : Disparate impact? Or something else?


angryworker
Dec 13, 2011, 11:26 AM
My employers policy on fraternization is that they "discourage it". Also states "Any working relationship between relatives, roomates or others with close personal relationships that appear to create or actually create a morale problem or disruption for any associate will be reviewed by hr" so to get to the story I have a two managers who are dating, living together and recently having a baby which is causeing morale problems in the store but our hr department did not make them transfer to different stores or quit instead we work around their baby schedule. My and my fiancˇ work at the same place and we are being asked to move to separate stores because we will be married. Is that legal and ethical?

tickle
Dec 13, 2011, 12:36 PM
You have two managers who are dating and/or living together (which is it by the way) and recently had/or are having a baby (which is it because you don't seem sure) ?

Not disputing your information angryworker because if this is true, but actually sounds like gossip, unless you know it is a fact, it sounds like HR is barking up the wrong tree.

Please clarify. Sorry.

osiris1
Dec 20, 2011, 10:46 AM
Well it's definitely not disparate impact. Disparate impact is a form of discrimination where an organization has a policy or practice that, on it's face, appears to be fine, but has the effect of discrimination based on a protected class. For example, your employer requires a high school diploma when there is no legitimate, non-discriminatory reason to need one and it has the effect of disqualifying people of a certain protected class.

There are no laws against nepotism or dating in the workplace. Also it sounds like your company has met it's self-imposed guidelines under the policy. They only said they would review the situation, not change it. It sounds like it could be favoritism though. Maybe the employer wanted to accommodate these managers but no one else. It's not illegal but definitely sucks for you. Good luck!